7 Inexpensive Ornamental Trees

A short compilation of some of the more common  trees that are  used locally  in residential landscaping. These are frequently found at box stores ( Lowes, Home Depot, Rural King) & can be  bought for $20 to $30 range for trees that are 3' to 5' tall. Most are low maintenance. These are ornamental trees that are planted for their aesthetic value - usually showy flowers, fragrance or leaf color.. Each group can cover a wide range of varieties - this is just a general overview. Some groups will be broken down in greater detail in subsequent articles.

Flowering Plum - (prunus cerasifera) zone 5-8 - Dense growing 15-25 foot tree with fragrant whitish pink to light purple flowers that tend to bloom in the early spring. Thundercloud variety had reddish purple leaves.

Eastern Redbud - (Cercis canadensis) - zone 4-9 - grows up to 15 feet tall and has purple/lavender blooms. Flowers in early Spring before leaves start to grow.

Dogwood - (cornus florida) - zone 5-9 - Slow growing to about 15 feet high but can be larger in the right comditions.They generally start to bloom in April with varieties having flowers that are white pink or red.

Flowering Pear - (Pyrus calleryana) - zone 5-9 fast growing tree. Some varieties grow to 10-15 feet tall but others can go as high as 50 feet. Bright white flowers in early Spring before leaves appear Easily identified by their unique pyramidal teardrop shape.

Crabapple - (malus) zone 4-9 - These trees grow moderately - most often to around 15 feet tall and wide ( can be larger). Spring flowers that are usually white pink or red. there are many, many varieties and the newer ones tend to be disease and pest resistant.

Star Magnolia - (Magnolia stellata) - zone 4-9 - Slow growing to 15 feet tall and 10 feet wide. Very fragrant early Spring flowers that are usually white but may have a pink tinge to them.

Flowering Cherry - (Yoshino, Kwanzan, Okame)  zone 6-9 - Three common Spring blooming varieties. Very fast growing trees that can grow 20 - 40 feet tall  (usually on the lower end of this range). Pink or white flowers.